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Without the right to communicate and democratisation of communication, the right to life, liberty, freedom of speech and expression is meaningless.It attempts to keep track of traditional media, offline media and digital media that faces the onslaught of monopolistic tendencies and is wary of localisation of media. It is part of Citizens Forum for Civil Liberties (CFCL) For Details: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mediavigil/info

Blue Lady’s illegal toxic oil sale under scanner

Supreme Court heard the Blue Lady (SS Norway) matter on 26 July. The court took notice of illegal sale of ship’s oil. It asked the Gujarat Pollution Control Board to submit its affidavit within one week.

In the last order, the petitioner’s lawyer had pointed out that the oil lying on the ship is safer than its presence on the shore since taking it out would create complications due to prevalent illegal trade of waste oil etc. But the lawyer appearing on behalf of Priya Blue Industries Ltd who is seeking to dismantle the ship had argued that due to monsoons there is a danger of contamination of sea due to oil spillage. Therefore, it was necessary to shift the oil from the ship.

Considering latter’s submission, the bench of Dr. Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice S.H. Kapadia ordered, “Without claiming any equities, the Ship Breaking Unit shall be permitted to remove oil from the ship under the supervision and guidance of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board and the Gujarat Maritime Board. It shall be ensured by these two authorities that the activity does not result in any environmental pollution because of spilling of oil. The authorities concerned shall record the details about the weight of oil to be removed from the ship.”

Unfortunately, what was apprehended came true since the oil, which was removed from the ship, has been sold in the market without the court’s permission. It is now for the GPCB and Gujarat Maritime Board to explain as to why oil and toxic waste oil were disposed of in tearing hurry.

Including waste oil, “The import of 29 items has already been prohibited under Schedule – 8 of the Hazardous Waste Rules as amended in May, 2003”, as per specific Supreme Court order. The order noted, “Basel Convention has banned 76 items.” Basel Convention is an UN treaty on movement of hazardous wastes. It further clarified that “It is implicit that if more items are banned, the corresponding Notification shall be issued by the Central Government under Section 11 of the Customs Act.” The HW Rules allow import of certain items subject to fulfillment of conditions. The court did observe that “it appears that unscrupulous traders in the garb of importing used oil or furnace oil, in fact, import waste oil which is a banned item.”

There has been no compliance of these directions in the case of Blue Lady and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has not even been intimated about the same. Supreme Court in the matter of Ship Breaking dealing with “Decontamination of ships before they are exported to India for breaking”, has specifically directed that “Before a ship arrives at port, it should have proper consent from the authority concerned or the State Maritime Board, stating that it does not contain any hazardous waste or radioactive substances. AERB should be consulted in the matter in appropriate cases.” The regulatory authority of AERB is derived from the rules and notifications promulgated under the Atomic Energy Act and the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986. A letter has been sent to the Chairman, AERB seeking his intervention to ascertain the hazards and the ensure compliance with Atomic Radiation Protection Rules, 2004 and the court order.

Meanwhile reports of new evidence of huge radioactive material named Americium 241 has come to light. On exposure this radioactive material is known to concentrate in the bone, liver and muscle and can expose surrounding tissues to radiation, thereby increasing the risk of cancer even as Environment Secretary headed Committee of Technical Experts (CTE) has opined that “the presence of radioactive materials in a passenger ship like “Blue Lady is quite unlikely.” In a letter to CTE, ship’s former Project Manager Tom Haugan has said that there is Americium 241 at 5500 detection points on Blue Lady.

2. NGO wants Gujarat Govt to explain 'hurried sale' of Blue Lady oilNewKerala.com, UNI India - 30 Jul 2007The oil has been sold in the market without the Supreme Court's permission, it said here, pointing out that the apex Court, which heard the Blue Lady (SS ...

3. Platform on Shipbreaking challenges clean chit to 'Blue lady'Times of India, India - 25 Jul 2007... a committee of technical experts (CTE), constituted by the Supreme Court, for the entry of Norwegian ship Blue Lady into the Indian territorial waters. ...

4. Blue Lady, a virtual death hole for workersMerinews, India - 26 Jul 2007CITING A LETTER written by former Project Manager of ‘Blue Lady’, the Indian Platform on Ship Breaking, a consortium of Labour and Trade unions as well as ...

5. Blue Lady: SC seeks NGO response on panel reportAhmedabad Newsline, Indian Express - 26 Jul 2007The apex court had made it clear that dismantling of the controversial ship, popularly known as ‘Blue Lady,’ will not take place without its clearance. ...

The Blue Lady, a cruise liner formerly known as SS Norway, was reported to be 4000 metres off Alang Wednesday evening. ...15. Platform on Shipbreaking challenges clean chit to 'Blue lady'The former project manager of SS Norway (Blue Lady) has submitted an evidence ... they are exported to India for breaking", has specifically directed that ...us.oneworld.net/article/view/151684 - 34k - 31 Jul 2007

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